BRHL Trade Deadline – Top 21 Trade Board

With the deadline upon us Saturday night, it’s time to look at the top 21 likely players to move, and figure out where they are going and for what. In addition to a broad overview, we’re actually going to make a trade for each player. Why 21? Because I lost count, that’s why. Ranked in no particular order, by the category they fit in.

THE RENTALS (or close to it)

Player – PK Subban (Col)
Rational – Why is he on here? The Aves already have plenty of offensive dmen, and it’s known they’re shopping him for a more defensive minded dman. Subban could help a team in the thick of it who has a struggling PP.
Interest Teams – Minnesota, Vegas, Carolina, Chicago
Possible Trade – To Minnesota for Erik Johnson

Player – Melker Karlsson (SJ)
Rational – He’s a UFA on a crappy team, who does have useful rates for a team needing a bottom 6 guy who you can throw on the PK, so contending teams with a weak PK could come calling, and the cost will be minimal.
Interest Teams – Ottawa, Columbus, Montreal, Dallas
Possible Trade – To Columbus for a 5th

Player – Jimmy Howard (NYR)
Rational – If the Rangers are truly waiving the towel, they could move Howard to a contending team looking for a bump in the crease. There’s plenty of teams who are “going for it” that Howard would be an upgrade to their starter, or their backup, Rangers likely would have to retain though
Interest Teams – Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Boston
Possible Trade – To Pens w/retention for Lias Andersson

Player – Ben Chiarot (SJ)
Rational – Solid ratings, cheap enough contract, some value in his loyalty rights in UFA. He will appeal to teams looking to add defensive depth at the deadline
Interest Teams – Nashville, Montreal, Tampa
Possible Trade – To Nashville for a pair of 7ths

Player – Patrick Marleau (SJ)
Rational – Decent offensive rates, Sharks will have to retain no doubt, but the EX and LD would only help a team in a playoff run.
Interest Teams – Carolina, Dallas, Boston, Montreal
Possible Trade – To Dallas with retention for Alex True.

Player – Mike Green (Sea)
Rational – Solid offensive rates, could help run a PP2, is relatively cheap, so should fit in cap wise for most teams.
Interest Teams – Vegas, Minnesota, Carolina, Winnipeg, Chicago
Possible Trade – To Winnipeg for 2021 4th

Player – Anton Stralman (Ana)
Rational – He has very good ratings, the Ducks aren’t real contenders, and Devon has been a buyer for 2 weeks, so we’re set for the tear down. In truth though, Stralman could be used to get a dman that can still help this season, but also give the team some term for the future. At some point we wonder if the Ducks will look to add a goalie for next year as well.
Interest Teams – Montreal, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Tampa
Possible Trade – To Habs with Michael Amadio for TJ Brodie

Player – Jordie Benn (Phi)
Rational – There’s almost nothing here worth talking about, but the Flyers are percolating. They’d likely need to send cash to cover a buyout potential, but Benn could be useful as a depth dman who can kill penalties.
Interest Teams – Anaheim, Nashville, Carolina, Los Angeles
Possible Trade – To Carolina for 2021 4th

Player – Evgeni Malkin
Rational – Rich is actually looking towards the future, allegedly willing to downgrade for term, how much remains to be seen. The Canes are not legit contenders this season, but there may be a few options out there for them.
Interest Teams – NY Islanders, Winnipeg, Colorado, Montreal, Tampa
Possible Trade – To Winnipeg for Ryan Johansen

Player – Marcus Kruger
Rational – He’s useful as a 4^th liner who can kill penalties. There aint much else here to talk about though.
Interest Teams – Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal, Columbus, Edmonton
Possible Trade – To Edmonton for a 2021 6th

Player – Nik Hjalmarsson (Fla)
Rational – Might need to find someone to retain, and/or include cash for a buyout, but Hjalmarsson has good rates this season to help in a 3^rd pairing DF base role. Given the contract, the return won’t be much.
Interest Teams – NY Islanders, Minnesota, Tampa, Colorado
Possible Trade – To Tampa for Martin Marincin

Player – Roman Polak (Van)
Rational – He has very good rates with a 96df, and only 2.2m fits into most buyers budgets. He makes sense on a team needing a high DF dman who they can throw in their third pair and have kill penalties.
Interest Teams – NY Islanders, Columbus, Colorado,
Possible Trade – To NYI for 4th

THE HOCKEY DEALS

Player – John Tavares (Bos)
Rational – Greg’s focus has changed to looking more longterm. Now it’s true he has JT for 3 years, but it’s also true that there’s plenty of Leaf fans who believe JT is almost as sexy as Dubas’ glasses. With JT’s ratings this year, he’s a huge add for anyone.
Interest Teams – Ottawa, Vegas, Pittsburgh, Anaheim, Winnipeg
Possible Trade – To Ottawa for Seguin. Both teams get what they want, Steph actually secures some financial outlook, Greg gets more term.

Player – Tyson Barrie (Det)
Rational – The Wings are in the midst of a long-term rebuild, despite having the upcoming Hart Winner in Draisaitl. But Barrie is expendable, and whoever gets him will want to sign him to a long-term deal before his next NHL deal gets done. He can help run a PP right now, and is an elite offensive dman.
Interest Teams – Minnesota, Anaheim, Los Angeles, Winnipeg, Pittsburgh
Possible Trade – To Minnesotae for Haydn Fleury, Alec Regula, Car 2, Edm 6

Player – Corey Crawford (Buf)
Rational – Retention and/or cash needed to sustain the future years, but he has OK ratings this year to help backup/platoon for potential playoff teams.
Interest Teams – Winnipeg, Tampa, Carolina
Possible Trade – To Winnipeg with full retention for Corey Schneider and Win 3

Player – Frederick Andersen (Bos)
Rational – Yes the Bruins have two guys on our list, continuing the roster decimation. Greg has made clear he wants more term, and Andersen is a top 5-7 goalie in the sim this year.
Interest Teams – Nashville, Colorado, Los Angeles
Possible Trade – They just swap their goalies. Holtby & Allen to Boston for Andersen and Domingue. The jewel of Greg’s eye here is actually Jake Allen, if he can somehow get to 35 games, he’s got great stats. Holtby is the transactional cost.

Player – Scott Laughton (Was)
Rational – Don’t look now, but Laughton is having an even better NHL season. As is, he’s a useful bottom 6 guy with size and very good defense, with a cheap contract. His high FO rating and ability to play left as well means he fits in well on numerous teams, those who are looking to supplement their PK, and get a better player for next year could do worse
Interest Teams – Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Montreal, Columbus, NY Rangers
Possible Trade – Laughton and Hill to NYR for Buchnevich

Player – Bryan Rust (NJ)
Rational – He’s having a career NHL year, but has good ratings this year as well, and a dirt cheap contract. The Devils could use him to address their long-term prospects in goal, and we have a perfect match lined up for him.
Interest Teams – St. Louis, Dallas, Montreal, Washington
Possible Trade – To St. Louis for Elvis Merzlikins & Gustav Forsling

Player – Johnny Gaudreau (Cal)
Rational – Kevin has had enough, he’s ready to get rid of the struggling Flames. Gaudreau still would net a ton, even though he’s struggled in the NHL this season. Really there’s 31 other interested teams.
Interest Teams – Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Edmonton, Carolina,
Possible Trade – To Philly for Liam Foudy & Phi 1

Player – Gabriel Landeskog (Chi)
Rational – His rates are as good as they will likely ever be. His NHL production has dropped down to more of his norm. The Hawks could sell a good asset for a great price based on his rates. A simple sell high strategy. A team concerned with trying to make an impact now, and still wanting term as they look to the future would make sense.
Interest Teams – NY Rangers, Anaheim, Kings, Columbus
Possible Trade – To LA for Clayton Keller

THE BECAUSE I HAD TO

Player – Zack Kassian (Ari)
Rational – He has useful ratings this year, which will only be going up next year, he’s one of the NHL’s premier power-forwards, and could help a team’s bottom 6 this year.
Interest Teams – Pittsburgh
Possible Trade – To Pittsburgh for Elias Pettersson